In one of the most chilling examples of real-world violence enabled by dark web services, a Croydon man has been jailed for 13 years after tracking his ex-girlfriend via hacked phone data and launching a knife attack on her and her new partner during their first date in Manchester.
Viet Tran, 22, of Leigh Crescent, used the dark web to hire a hacker to gain unauthorized access to his ex-girlfriend’s phone. According to court records, Tran was able to read private messages and track her GPS location, uncovering plans for her upcoming date in Manchester City Centre on August 4, 2023.
What followed was a meticulously planned, 240-mile journey fueled by obsession and revenge. Tran took a train to Manchester, where he followed the couple for hours, maintaining a distance of approximately 100 yards. He studied their movements across the city and waited for the right moment.
In the early hours of the morning, Tran launched a surprise attack, using UV spray to disorient both victims before stabbing them multiple times. He fled back to London immediately after and disposed of the knife, hoping to erase the trail.
Initially believed to be a random street assault, police later traced the act to Tran after reviewing surveillance footage and phone records. His use of the dark web to facilitate digital stalking became a key component of the prosecution’s case.
Both victims survived the attack but continue to suffer lasting trauma. The male victim, a father of three, gave an emotional impact statement describing how the event shattered his sense of safety, disrupted his health, and left him fearful in public spaces. “I believed I was going to die,” he stated, recounting the moment he was stabbed.
The court found Tran guilty of Section 18 (intent to cause grievous bodily harm) and Section 20 (unlawful wounding). Sentencing took place on April 3, where the judge condemned Tran’s actions as “cold, calculated, and digitally premeditated.”
This case underscores the growing real-world threat of dark web-enabled violence, where low-cost hacking services can empower individuals to carry out digital surveillance leading to physical harm.
